Business/Commerce at Bryant & Stratton College-Online

Bryant & Stratton College-Online's business associate degree produces graduates who earn roughly $30,000 annually—about $6,500 below the national median for similar programs. However, this tells only part of the story. Within New York state, these earnings are exactly average (50th percentile), suggesting the program isn't underperforming so much as reflecting New York's lower-tier community college market for business degrees. The debt load of $24,500 is concerning, running nearly double the national median for associate programs in business, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means graduates could theoretically pay it off in under a year if they dedicated all earnings to it.

The real issue here is the lack of earnings growth—just 2% over four years suggests graduates aren't advancing into better-paying roles. Compare this to Empire State University in New York, where business associate graduates earn more than double at $62,000. With 75% of students receiving Pell grants, this school serves a financially vulnerable population that may not have better options, but families should understand they're taking on significant debt for entry-level wages that don't appear to increase much over time.

If your child can access a SUNY community college with a business program, that would likely offer similar earnings with far less debt. This program works if online flexibility is essential and you minimize borrowing, but it's not positioned to deliver strong financial returns compared to alternatives.